TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
No. 34/13 16-18/2/13
1.
Threats by Eroglu on the issue of natural gas and oil; Reference to the
presidential elections
2.
Eroglu argues that they should watch out for Anastasiades
3.
How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press cover the first round of the
presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus
4.
Ozgurgun claims that nothing will change after Cyprus’ presidential elections
5. Patriarch Bartholomeos’s interview to Milliyet
5. Patriarch Bartholomeos’s interview to Milliyet
6.
Turkish Energy Minister says that political issues an obstacle between
Turkey-Israel energy cooperation
7.
Shell’s director: “Company abstain from exploring in conflict regions”
8.
Analysis in Turkish paper supports that Black Sea deal unlikely to solve energy
import woes in Turkey
9.
Turkish ministers to illegally visit occupied Cyprus
10.
Davutoglu: “No power can break us off Europe”
11.
Turkey’s first locally built research ship at sea
12.
The breakaway regime to participate in the International Tourism Exchange Fair
in the in Milan
13. A new luxury hotel of
Merit Group to be built in occupied Keryneia
1. Threats by Eroglu on the issue of natural gas
and oil; Reference to the presidential elections
Under the title
“Waters are warming up in the Mediterranean”, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes
newspaper (18.02.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has
alleged that the agreements made by the Republic of Cyprus with Israeli and
French companies on the issue of the explorations for oil and natural gas in
the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean, “are warming up
the waters in the Mediterranean”. In statements to Anatolia news agency, Eroglu
argued that “the Greek Cypriot side should show more sensitivity” on this issue
and alleged that “this problem”, as he called it, will “cause headache to south
Cyprus”, as he described the Republic of Cyprus.
Eroglu evaluated
also the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus noting that the most
powerful candidate is the chairman of the Democratic Rally Party (DISY), Nikos
Anastasiades. Eroglu alleged that the Turkish side wishes a “viable and lasting
agreement”, which “will emerge taking into consideration the existing realities”.
Eroglu claimed
that Anastasiades is no different than the previous Greek Cypriot leaders on
the Cyprus problem and argued that now Anastasiades is strongly against the
Annan Plan, in spite of the fact that that he had been on the side of those who
were supporting the “yes” vote to the plan. Noting that Anastasiades said he is
against Turkey’s guarantees and he will not accept the existence of the illegal
Turkish settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu added:
“Anastasiades
says he is against Turkey’s guarantees and he will not accept the existence of
our brothers who have come from Turkey and became our citizens. It is seen that
he will not be following a very conciliatory stance at the negotiating table.
He shows that he is annoyed from Turkey’s guarantees, and complains of the
permanent existence of our citizens who had come from Turkey. It is not
possible for us to accept these. We are waiting saying God willing he will come
to the negotiating table after the elections. I will make an evaluation of the
situation taking into consideration the proposals he will bring to the
table”.
Eroglu referred
also to Turkey’s EU accession course and described as an “unfair behavior” the
fact that the Cyprus problem constitutes an obstacle in Turkey’s negotiations
with the EU. “If there is a problem today in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side is
responsible for this”, he alleged referring to a scenario to delay Turkey at
the door of the EU.
(I/Ts.)
2. Eroglu argues that they should watch out for
Anastasiades
Turkish daily
Milliyet newspaper (17.02.13) published statements by the Turkish Cypriot
leader, Dervis Eroglu who evaluated the presidential elections in the Republic
of Cyprus, noting that the most powerful
candidate is the chairman of the Democratic Rally Party (DISY), Nikos
Anastasiades. In statements to Milliyet’s correspondent in the occupied part of
Cyprus, Eroglu argued that the elected leaders in the Republic of Cyprus are
not different from each other and claimed that whoever is elected “cannot act
outside the views of the Greek Cypriot people”. “He cannot follow a policy
contrary to the one followed by the former Greek Cypriot leaders’, he
argued.
Noting that
“Anastasiades will be a difficult leader”, Eroglu claimed that “it is not
enough if only we are optimistic for the solution, the important thing is for
the other side also to be optimistic”.
Eroglu said that
instead of receiving Anastasiades with great hope they should receive him with
“reservation and accordingly to be cautious at the negotiating table”. Eroglu
recalled that Anastasiades’ DISY party is in coalition with DIKO, “the party of
‘Mr No’ Tassos Papadopoulos”, as he argued.
He noted that he had met three times with the leader of DISY in the past
and that the DISY chairman had given him “mature messages”, but his party “had
been established by former EOKA members” and “it would be naivety to expect
that he will follow a flexible policy”.
Eroglu alleged
that Anastasiades has some “hardline views”, such as that Turkey should
recognize the Republic of Cyprus, that the fenced city of Varosha should be
returned to its legal owners and that Turkey’s guarantees should be lifted.
Eroglu reiterated the Turkish view that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive
solution and added that the Turkish side had proposed its opening based on some
preconditions, but the Greek Cypriot side rejected their proposal.
Eroglu argued
that it would be difficult to reach an agreement, if Anastasiades keeps his
promises that he will not accept time limit and arbitration in the negotiations
and try to get rid of Turkey’s guarantees. “Things which should not be said,
might be said due to the enthusiasm of the elections. We should sit at the
table by putting these aside”, he added.
(I/Ts.)
3. How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press cover
the first round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus
The majority of
the Turkish Cypriot daily newspapers of today (18.02.13) publish on their front
pages the results of the first round of the presidential elections held
yesterday in the Republic of Cyprus. The papers refer to the issue under the
following titles:
Kibris: “The expected result” and “Anastasiades, who could not win in the first
round, will compete with Malas in the second round”.
Havadis: “The second round on 24 February”. On its front page, the paper refers
to the percentages secured by the three main candidates in the elections.
Star Kibris: “Fatal day for Cyprus”. The paper uses this title
referring to both the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus and the
second round for the election of the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP),
which will be held on the same day.
Haberdar: “Critical Sunday”. The paper also refers to the two above-mentioned
events that will happen on the same day.
Ortam: “Second round”. The paper writes that the elections will significantly
influence the Cyprus problem during the forthcoming period.
Vatan: “A second round came out of the ballot box”. The paper publishes on its
front page the percentages received by all eleven candidates and the pictures
of the two candidates who will compete in the second round.
Volkan: “The second round on 24 February”.
Kibrisli: “The neighbors remained to the second round”. The paper refers also to UBP’s congress,
which it said, will prevail in the agenda in the occupied area of Cyprus.
Halkin Sesi: “They remained to the second round”.
Afrika: “Anastasiades and Malas remained to the second round”. The paper argues
that “Anastasiades could not achieve the result he was hoping in the first
round”.
Gunes and Bakis
do not refer to the elections.
Turkish
press:
Hurriyet:
“What has Merkel said to him”. The paper publishes reportage by journalist Omer
Bilge who writes that the Greek Cypriots who suffer from economic crisis went
yesterday to elections. Bilge underlines that the leader of the main opposition
party DISI Nikos Anastasiades who is also supported by the German Counsellor
Angela Merkel, was the side who laugh first gaining 45.46% of the votes with
Stavros Malas, who is backed by AKEL to come second with 27% and points out
that country’s policy is turning from the leftist to the rightist.
Zaman:
“The election of the president at the Greek Cypriot side remained for the
second round”. Underlining that none of the candidates achieved to receive
50.01% in order to win the elections from the first round, the paper points out
that for the first time in history, the Cyprus problem was not the priority
issue during the election campaign of the candidates, and this, because of the
economic crisis.
Cumhuriyet:
“The election of the president in south Cyprus remained to be held in the
second round”
Milliyet:
“We should be careful with Anastasiades”. The paper’s correspondent in occupied
Cyprus Sefa Karahasan publishes statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader,
Dervis Eroglu who commented on yesterday’s elections in the free areas of the
Republic of Cyprus and said, inter alia, that it is not matter who will be the
winner of the elections but what matters is the policy he would follow.
However, Eroglu described Anastasiades to be a difficult leader if he would win
the elections.
Radikal:
“A call for ‘unity’ by Anastasiades”. The paper writes that the two candidates
who will run for the election of the president of the “Greek Cypriot
administration” at the second round of the elections in February 24, made a
calling for unity.
Sabah:
“Again elections in south Cyprus”
Hurriyet
Daily News (English): “Anastasiades, Malas to
contest Greek Cyprus runoff: Results”
4. Ozgurgun claims that nothing will change after
Cyprus’ presidential elections
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.02.13) reports that the self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime Huseyin Ozgurgun alleged that nothing would change after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.02.13) reports that the self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime Huseyin Ozgurgun alleged that nothing would change after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus.
Ozgurgun alleged
that “it would be absurd to expect the EU not to use Cyprus issue as a barrier
for Turkey's accession”.
He went on and
claimed that although DYSI Chairman Nikos Anastasiades was favored; the results
were still expected to be clear in the second round, adding that the alliances
at that round would be important.
Anastasiades's
victory would not bring a positive result according to Ozgurgun who alleged
that there were serious questions over how the talks on Cyprus problem would
proceed.
He claimed that
the EU uses small countries as a “leverage” and it was the reason Cyprus became
a member.
On the natural
gas agreements Cyprus made with Israeli and French companies, Ozgurgun alleged
that “France wants to have a base in Cyprus via those agreements”.
Regarding the
water supply project, Ozgurgun said: “We would give water to Greek Cypriots as
we gave electricity before." He said Greek Cypriots did not have an
alternative water supply and added that breakaway regime would like such supply
agreements with Greek Cypriot side would set a basis for resolution of the
Cyprus problem.
5.
Patriarch Bartholomeos’s interview to Milliyet
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (17.02.13)
reported that the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos I in Istanbul has
said that he learned that a special commission was set up to decide the fate of
the Halki Seminary, which has been closed for more than four decades, from
newspapers.
The Fener Rum Patriarch spoke to the
Milliyet daily in an interview published on Sunday. Bartholomeos commented on
developments regarding the Halki Seminary, which was established in 1844 on the
island of Heybeliada [Xalki]. The seminary was closed in 1971 under a law that
put religious and military training under state control. It was the only school
where Turkey's Greek minority educated clergy. The theological school once
trained generations of Greek Orthodox leaders, including Patriarch Bartholomew,
who is one of its 900 graduates.
Civil society groups have long been
arguing that it was closed unlawfully and that its reopening will require
political will to bypass obstacles from anti-EU groups in Turkey, but steps in
that direction have so far been slow.
Bartholomeos said: “We are very sorry
about this. It is not easy to understand how a house of knowledge can remain
shut for 42 years in a modern Turkey.” He said the Patriarchate had been given
false hopes many times about a possible re-opening of the school. “Recently, we
read in the Hurriyet daily that a new commission was established, but we are
learning about this from the media. There is no representative of the
Patriarchate on this commission. It is as if we are not a party relevant to
this issue.”
He said of the Halki Seminary: “[Mustafa
Kemal] Ataturk didn't shut it down, nor did [İsmet] İnunu or [Adnan] Menderes.
It was shut down in 1971 [the year of the March 12 military coup] when there
was a politically extraordinary situation in Ankara. And we have been given
false hopes so many times since that day. We have been waiting for our school
to reopen for 42 years. Where is our school? Where is our freedom of religion?
Where is our freedom of education? Where are human rights? Where is [the Treaty
of] Lausanne?” The Patriarch said that the Lausanne Treaty clearly states that
non-Muslim minorities in Turkey can open schools providing religious education
using their own funds. He also noted: “We don't want a new school; we just want
our school to start operating again.”
The patriarch also commented on preparations
to open a new Greek School on Gokceada (Imbros), an island in the Aegean Sea
off the coast of Canakkale province [Dardanelle]. The Ministry of Education
last month gave permission to the Greek community of the island to open a
primary school on Gokceada. He also said it was good news that Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered Turkish citizenship to a number of archbishops in
2009, allowing all these individuals to participate in patriarchal elections. “We
are grateful to our prime minister. But the other issues that I have talked
about are wearing us out, saddening us. This is also creating an impression
that we are second-class citizens. For example, ambassadors, foreign prime
ministers and presidents come to visit [the Patriarchate] and they enquire
about our situation. When we explain to them the facts, they find it hard to
understand. I don't want to put Turkey down, I tell them the facts just like I
am telling them now.”
He also said that there was a time when
the Foreign Ministry tried to block visits from foreign delegations to the
Patriarchate.
Also, according to Turkish daily
Milliyet (18.02.13) asked to reply to the question: “The Patriarchate plays a
significant role to the Turkish-Greek ties. How this role will continue? For
example what will happen in the Cyprus problem?”, the Patriarch replied as
follows: “We want the solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. For
many years our country is divided. As Patriarchate, we wish for the
establishment of a dialogue. Now there are elections, maybe, after the
elections we will enter into a positive era.
Asked to comment to the possibility of
the opening of Agia Sophia as a mosque, Patriarch Bartholomeos said that they
want to protect the present status of Agia Sophia adding that the if Agia
Sophia is to be opened for prayer, it should open as a church and not a mosque,
since one thousand years ago it served as a Christian church, and in that way
it should be served again. “Because, it was established as a church, and not as
a mosque. If it would open for prayer, it should open as a Christian church. We
want to continue to be a museum”, the Patriarch said.
6. Turkish Energy Minister says that political
issues an obstacle between Turkey-Israel energy cooperation
Ankara Anatolia news
agency (15.02.13) reports that the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Taner Yildiz stated: "We can't act like nothing has happened.
Unless the conditions stated by our prime minister are met, we can't initiate a
project with Israel," in reference to pipeline project between Turkey and
Israel.
Yildiz gave an
interview to CNBC-e TV channel where he stated that from time to time politics
was a burden on energy and from time to time energy was a burden on politics.
Yildiz said:
"Our aim is to be in cooperation with all of our neighbors and make use of
the advantage of our geography. Israel is aware of our sensitivities. It is a
risk to begin such projects without maturing the political relations. They know
about this risk as well."
Asked who would
build the second nuclear power plant in Turkey, Yildiz stated that nuclear
negotiations could take a few more months.
Yildiz also
stated that Turkey imported 6 million dollars worth of oil from Iran last year.
Stating that
Turkey was the only neighboring country to Iran in the OECD, Yildiz said,
"Some European countries import 2 percent of their oil need from Iran but
they say they don't anymore. Turkey imports 40-50 percent of oil and one fifth
of gas need from Iran and we can't stop it. Our priority is our citizens."
7. Shell’s director: “Company abstain from
exploring in conflict regions”
Illegal Bayrak
television (17.02.13) broadcast that Andy Brown the Upstream International
Director of Shell has stated that they were not considering conducting exploration
works in the eastern Mediterranean, in the exclusive economic zone of the
Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking to the
Anatolian News Agency on Friday, Brown said: "We generally abstain from
exploring in conflict regions. When this issue is clarified, of course we will
conduct a study in regards to exploration of oil and gas in the eastern
Mediterranean”
He said ‘we
believe that coming to an agreement on sovereignty rights is a matter to be
decided by governments. At the moment we do not consider to be a part of the
search."
Brown also
touched on the shale exploration works in cooperation with Turkish Petroleum
Cooperation (TPAO) in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakir and stated
that the search and production works were ongoing and it was too early to say
anything in regards to the reserve levels.
8. Analysis in Turkish paper supports that Black
Sea deal unlikely to solve energy import woes in Turkey
Turkish daily
Today’s Zaman newspaper (18.02.13) reports that exploiting domestic fossil fuel
reserves has been billed by Ankara as a key step in securing a more stable
economic future, but chronic Turkish import dependence is unlikely to change in
the coming decade even if a new agreement between oil giant Shell and the
country’s state oil firm strikes it big in the Black Sea.
The paper, which
reports about the deal signed between the state owned Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO) with Shell, on for an estimated $200 million drilling
contract which will last three years,
writes, that this a move that will make Shell the third major
international oil firm to try its hand at finding extractable reserves in
Turkey’s Black Sea waters.
“Ankara’s
frustrated search for oil in the region has continued for years, with
government promises of tens of billions of barrels of oil offered as a way out
of Turkey’s biggest economic weakness -- its need to import around 90 percent
of its oil from abroad. “But now and in the future, it will be difficult to
know how close Turkey or private companies are to discovering oil in the
region, and even more difficult to say what kind of reserves it might discover
there,” oil analyst and Turkish Association for Energy Economics (TRAEE)
President Gürkan Kumbaroğlu told Sunday’s Zaman.
“Similar
exploration has been going on for years, and there’s only one clear result --
there is probably no easy oil or gas in the Black Sea.”
[…]
TPAO has
invested around $12 billion for oil exploration and drilling projects in the
Black Sea since it began work there in the mid-1970s. And while it is a sign of
the government’s need to limit its dependence on oil and gas from abroad -- of
which it bought just over $60 billion in 2012 -- it is also a sign that the
infrastructure for independence is not easy to develop.
“The question
being asked right now is if Turkey’s energy mix can include domestic sources in
the near future. The more important question is where that will come from,”
said energy analyst and Turkey World Energy Council Committee board member Oğuz
Türkyılmaz. “Turkey needs to diversify its search and see what kind of
infrastructure will be needed to tap those other sources of energy, including
shale gas and possible oil in the Southeast.”
Aside from
sounding quite similar to previous government suggestions that the Black Sea
would cover oil and gas needs by the country’s centennial in 2023, it also
underlines another critical point in the hype about domestic energy -- readily
available, exploitable sources will probably not be ready within the next
decade. That in turn means that Turkey’s energy dependence will widen as the
country continues to build an appetite for more energy. […]
Ankara has also
said that it will rely on nuclear, coal and renewables for its future
electricity mix. The only problem is that nuclear is controversial, coal is
also mostly imported and renewables require subsidies so far lacking in Turkey,
say both Kumbaroglu and Türkyılmaz.
[…]
Exploiting
domestic fossil fuel reserves has been billed by Ankara as a key step in
securing a more stable economic future, but chronic Turkish import dependence
is unlikely to change in the coming decade even if a new agreement between oil
giant Shell and the country’s state oil firm strikes it big in the Black Sea. […]
To be sure,
there is indeed oil and gas. A TPAO exploratory well found natural gas it said
might be exploitable in a well near Bulgarian waters last year, and says it
found oil in a third of the 57 wells it drilled in 2012. But the one well it
hailed as a sign of the Black Sea’s promise suggests that the opposite may be
true -- the other wells where oil and gas were found had low output potential,
the government stated. TPAO has invested around $12 billion for oil exploration
and drilling projects in the Black Sea since it began work there in the
mid-1970s. And while it is a sign of the government’s need to limit its
dependence on oil and gas from abroad -- of which it bought just over $60
billion in 2012 -- it is also a sign that the infrastructure for independence
is not easy to develop.
“The question
being asked right now is if Turkey’s energy mix can include domestic sources in
the near future. The more important question is where that will come from,”
said energy analyst and Turkey World Energy Council Committee board member Oguz
Türkyılmaz. “Turkey needs to diversify its search and see what kind of
infrastructure will be needed to tap those other sources of energy, including
shale gas and possible oil in the Southeast.”
“It seems likely
that Turkey can create some major form of domestic energy production. But it
will take years,” said Kumbaroglu. “In the meantime, Turkey is stuck.”
9. Turkish ministers to illegally visit occupied
Cyprus
Illegal Bayrak
television (17.02.13) reports that Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister also in
charge of Cyprus Affairs Beşir Atalay and the Turkish Minister of Transport,
Maritime Affairs and Communications Binalı Yıldırım are illegally visiting
occupied Cyprus. The two ministers will attend the founding laying ceremonies
for 4 new dual carriage ways in the breakaway regime.
The Turkish ministers
will also exchange views with so-called officials on the 3-year economic
program of the breakaway regime during their one-day visit.
Self-styled
prime minister Irsen Kucuk thanked “motherland Turkey” for its huge
contributions in the preparation and implementation of the economic program
which came into force as of January.
In addition,
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (18.02.13) reports that the Turkish
ministers will also participate in the inauguration ceremony for the opening of
a veterinary medicine school at the illegal Near East university.
10. Davutoglu: “No power can break us off Europe”
Ankara Anatolia
news agency (17.02.13) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu on Sunday said that "no power could break us off Europe".
Speaking at a
meeting on international developments and a tour of horizon in 2013, organized
by the Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen (MUSIAD) in
Istanbul, Ahmet Davutoglu underlined that "just as no power can break off
Antep from Aleppo, no power can break off Edirne from Sarajevo, Skopje or even
Berlin".
This is what our
cultural demography, economic relations and historic past indicate, Davutoglu
stressed.
Touching on
Turkey's international relations, Davutoglu stated that there will remain no
country in which Turkey's friendly and brotherly presence is not felt.
"Back in
2003, Turkey had 94 embassies and 161 foreign representations. At the present
time, Turkey has 126 embassies and 221 foreign representations," Davutoglu
also said.
11. Turkey’s first locally built research ship at
sea
Turkish daily
Hurriyet Daily News (18.02.13) reports that Turkey’s first national research
ship, TÜBİTAK Marmara, which is purposed to observe undersea operations of
every kind as well as to conduct oil exploration activities, was put to sea
Feb. 17.
“Turkey has
proved that it is also capable of building research ships, along with freight
ships. Hopefully, it will be able to export these ships also,” Science,
Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün said during the landing event of
the ship in Istanbul. “The studies to be done with this ship will boost our
country’s opportunities to benefit from the seas and will create a substantial
surplus for our country.”
The ship will
contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems from soaring sea traffic and
enable research, surveillance and guidance on many undersea-related issues
including watching fault lines and pipelines as well as exploring for oil.
Turkey hasn’t
benefited from its marine opportunities as much as it should have since
research ships and the human resources for these studies have not been
adequate, Ergün said, promising to do more in the government.
In his remarks
on the surging research and development budget of the government, the minister
reasserted the Turkish government’s goal of being a country that focuses on
research investment even though it won’t bring political benefits.
“Ten years ago,
research infrastructure investments used to be only 114 million Turkish Liras
within investment programs, but in 2013, we’ve allocated 1.9 billion liras,
which is 17 times more.”
The ship will be
fully equipped by the end of May and begin to its operations, the minister said
during his speech at the event.
Building the
research ship is an extension of the program to boost Turkey’s marine research,
which started with establishment of a Sea Research Center within Turkey’s
scientific institution TÜBİTAK’s Marmara region study hub. The center was
formed for information sharing with international research centers and to
adjust the systems to International Maritime Organization and European Union
environment and water directives.
12. The breakaway regime to participate in the
International Tourism Exchange Fair in the in Milan
Illegal Bayrak
television (17.02.13) broadcast that the breakaway regime is participating in
the International Tourism Exchange Fair in the Italian city of Milan and added that
a wide variety of tourism sector representatives from the breakaway regime also
took part in the fair.
“Monuments
representing Cyprus, the sea and special interest tourism can be found at the
40 square meters North Cyprus stand in Milan”, according to Bayrak.
The head of the
self-styled Tourism Promotion and Marketing Department of the “Ministry for
Tourism, Environment and Culture” Derviş Gezer is heading the delegation that
is taking part at the fair.
More than 2000
exhibitors from over 120 countries have taken part in this year’s fair.
13.
A new luxury hotel of Merit Group to be built in occupied Keryneia
Under the title: “Intelligence
investment to the TRNC”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (18.02.13) reports that
the Merit Group continues its investments in the occupied area of Cyprus and
points out that the company will built a luxury hotel in occupied Keryneia
called “Intelligence hotel”.
The paper underlines that the
construction of the hotel is expected to be completed by the summer and writes
that it will be a luxury hotel of 750 rooms with 70 executive suites and 231
luxury suites.
Referring to the project of the
construction of the hotel, the so-called minister of finance, Ersin Tatar
described the construction of the hotel as a “big blow” to the “international
embargoes”.
(AK)
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
/EI
